Improvement in feeders for machine-guns



2 Sheets-Sheet l. J. P. TAYLOR. FEEDER'S FOR MACHINE GUNS.

Patented Ap1117, 1877.

N.PE|ERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

WLTNESSES I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. P. T A YL 0 R. I

FEEDERS FOR MACHINE GUNS.

N o 1.8 9 811. lPan-.emu April 17, la7-7.

wnNESsEs INVEVNTOR v N. PETERS, PHOT0 L|THUGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C FFIG PATE

JAMES P. TAYLOR, OF CARTER DEPOT, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEEDERS `FOR MACHINE-GUNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,811', dated April `17, 1877; application filed l April 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concern .i

Beit known that I, JAMES PATTQN TAY- LOB, of Garter Depot, in the county of Garter and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Devices for Machine-Guns,0f which the following is a specification:

vThe object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective device for receiving anged cartridges and conveying them in proper position to the firing mechanism. To this end I provide agrate or gridin horizonal, vertical, or inclined position, as may be required, the bars being at the requisite 'distance apart to permit the entrance of the body ofthe cartridge between them, and hold them by their flanges, as hereinafter described, the cartridges being fed either from packing-cases vor promiscuously in bulk.

The invention further relates to a device for taking metallic cartridges from the case in which they are to be packed, and conveying them in proper position to the firing-mechanism. This device consists in a series of vertical or inclined bars, between which the bases of the hanged cartridges may be introduced, as hereinafter described,

The invention further relates to a combination, with the grid or guidebars above referred to, of tripping-bars, by which the cartridges may be changed t'roma vertical to an inclined position.

The invention further relates to so constructing/'and applying the said tripping-bars that they may be adjusted in position to suit cartridges of different lengths, or either ball or blank cartridges, as required. In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of a feed device illustrating the invention. l Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3, Figfl. Fig. 4 is a perspective view. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, illustrating a modication. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a packing-case of novel construction, illed with cartridges.

The feed mechanism consists essentially of a series of parallel bars, Al or A2, the spaces between which are equal in number to the barrels of the machine-gun with which the apparatus is to be used. These bars may have the vertical position shown at l in Figs. 2, 4,5, and 6, or the horizontal position shown at 2, or vertical and horizontal bars may be combined, as shown at l and 2 in Figs. 2 and 4.

They preferably terminate rearward in a seghorizontally by means o slots C in the frame to which they are attached, .so 'as to cause them to act with the proper effect upon the points of the cartridges. D is a vertical guideplate placed in the rear of the segmental back portion A3 of the bars, in order to confine the cartridges to the spaces between said bars as they descend vertically to the iiring-chamber or to suitable devices which convey them one by one to the firing-chamber. E represents a hopper, which may be placed on top ofthe horizontal portion 2 of the bars A, when it is desired to supply the cartridges promiscuously to the feed mechanism, as hereinafter described. F represents a cartridge-case of -pecnliar construction, having two sides, ff, extending to a greater height than the-front and back f, and with a cover, f2, adapted to fit within the sides ff in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7, so as to leave spaces through which the vertical bars l may pass, as illustrated in Fig. 2, for the purpose of drawing the cartridges from their cases. The cartridges and cartridge-case are shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines.

Operation If the cartridges are to be supplied to the gun in a promiscuous manner, which may be done by the use of a scoop, a suitable hopper, E, is placed over the horizontal portion A2 of the bars, the cartridges being then poured upon the grate A2 heads to points, or crossed and piled in any position. They are simply stirred or shaken, the effect of which is to cause the points to drop between the bars A2, while the anges are retained by said bars, so that the cartridges will bein vertical position.y The hand is then placed beneath the bars A2, and the cartridgesV pressed backward, their points coming in contact with the tripping-bar B, as their flanged bases are carried around the segmental portions A2 of the grate-bars, and .the cartridges fall one upon another inhorizontal position, the tripbar B being adj usted horizontally, so as to adapt it to producethe required effect upon the cartridges as they pass over itin succession. Where the car-v tridges are packed in cases, as illustrated in Fig. 7, a whole casei'ull is supplied to the feeding mechanism at one operation, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the operator applying a light pressure to the cover f 2, with one hand to keep the flanges incontact with thebars A1, while with the other hand he withdraws the body f f 1 of the boX.- The cartridges will then descend by their gravity, and, with the device constructed as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and4, they are pressed forward or backward by hand, as before described. If itis not desired t0 adapt the apparatus for the promiscuous supply of cartridges in bulk, it receives the more simple construction; illustrated in Figs.

5 and 6, the trip-bar B being'then employedA to retain the points of the cartridges-while their anged bases pass around the convex or segmental portion 3 of the bars, or to retard. the pointsof the cartridges to prevent their falling point first, and thereby endangering,y chokiugof the apparatus. The throats G-between the bars A3 terminate in divergent channels or throats H, by which the cartridges are conveyed to the requisite distance asunder to bring them directly in line with the respective barrels in which they are to be fired.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and l desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A feeder lfor machine-guns, consisting of a series of' parallel bars, with spaces, as shown and described, for the automatic arranging or assembling of the cartridges, with their points in corresponding position, preliminary to their introduction into the breech or charge-chamber.

2. Theblades A1, constructed and arranged- 

